Vacuum cleaner tool with adjustable brush



April 1953 G. M. KELLY 2,635,279

VACUUM CLEANER TOOL WITH ADJUSTABLE BRUSH Filed Jan. 20, 1947 Illl 5 3 5IIIIIIIII II 'i \\\N% 'z 4 4 @Wlh'llfifiii M M HH W \WWWWIHHHMHM 40 3230 30/6 44 z ikge "/6 4 3? lab 40b 40a 3620a 30/, iW/EHZZIP Geo/res M.KELLY Patented Apr. 21, 1953 VACUUM CLEANER TOOL WITH ADJUSTABLE BRUSHGeorge M. Kelly, Sturgis, Mich., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Kingston Products Corporation, Kokomo, 11111., acorporation of Indiana Application January 20, 1947, Serial No. 723,169

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a cleaning tool, and particularly to acleaning tool wherein a surface cleaning member, such as a brush,agitator, abrader, polisher, or the like, is adjustably positioned withrespect to the working face of the tool.

While not limited thereto, this invention finds particular applicationin floor cleaning type suction nozzles commonly utilized in connectionwith vacuum cleaners.

In accordance with this invention, the surface cleaning member of acleaning tool, such as a brush of a floor nozzle, is movably mounted ina recess in the working face of such cleaning tool so that it may occupyany one of a plurality of positions of varying extents of projectionrelative to such working face. Suitable resilient members are'providedto urge the surface cleaning member to one of its extreme positions ofprojection relative to the working face of the cleaning tool.

In a communicating recess, a positioning member is disposed which isengageable with the shiftable surface cleaning member to position suchmember in any selected one of a plurality of positions of varyingextents of projection. The posithe rotation of such screw. Such rotationis then accomplished by manual operation of a knob formed on the screwwhich has a peripheral portion projecting outwardly through a slot inone of the walls defining the communicating recess.

' Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedcleaning tool, particular- 1y, an improved cleaning tool of the typewherein the surface cleaning member, such as a brush, is adjustable inits extent of projection with respect to the working face of the tool.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved cleaningtool characterized by the simplicity of its components and the ease ofmanufacture and assembly thereof, and wherein a single detachable covermember for the working face of the cleaning tool performs the doublefunction of securing a resilient bumper on the cleaning tool andmaintaining the positioning control element for the adjustable brush orother surface cleaning member in operative assembly.

The specific nature of the invention as well as other object andadvantages thereof will become apparent to those skilled in the art fromthe following detailed description of the annexed sheet of drawingswhich, by way of a preferred example only, illustrates one specificembodiment of the invention.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an assembled cleaning toolembodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a bottom elevational view of the cleaning tool of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the plane III-IIIof Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along the plane IV-IV ofFigure 2.

As shown on the drawings:

While my invention will be described and illustrated in connection withits application to an adjustable brush suction cleaning tool, it shouldbe distinctly understood that the principles thereof are equallyapplicable to any form of cleaning tool wherein it is desired to providean adjustable mounting of a surface cleaning member with respect to theworking face of the tool.

Referring to Figure 1, a nozzle casing ll) of conventional configurationis employed having a bottom working face l2 and a pair of elongatedrecesses 14 and I6 respectively opening in such working face, theelongated recess I4 forming a suction slot. An integral hollow tubularportion I8 is formed on the back side of nozzle casing I0 and the bore20 of such tubular portion is in communication with the elongated recessM. The tubular member l8 permits connection of the nozzle casing It] inconventional manner to an air hose (not shown) which in turn isconnected to a suitable suction source so as to produce a flow of airpast the working face l2 into the recess Hi and thence into the tubularportion [8, carrying along all dust and debris loosened by the operationof the cleaning tool. To facilitate the casting of the nozzle casing H),the elongated recess I6 is preferably originally cast so as to be incommunication at its central portion with recess l4 and the bore 20 oftubular portion 18. Recess I6 is thereafter isolated from the air flowthrough recess 14 and tubular portion l8 by the assemblage of an angleplate 22 into the interior of the casting ID, as by screws 24. Onehorizon tal arm 22a, of angle plate 22 separates recess Hi fromcommunication with the passage through tubular portion [8 while theother vertical arm 22b divides recess I6 from elongated recess I4. Theassemblage of angleplate 22 in the casing I then results in the twospaced parallel elongated recesses I4 and I6 opening in the working faceI2 of the nozzle casing plus a transversely extending recess 26communicating only with the central portion of elongated recess I 6.

An elongated surface cleaning member 36,

here shown as comprising a brush having a frame 30a, and bristles 30bsecured thereto, is movably mounted in elongated recess I6 ,so that suchcleaning member '30 may be positioned in recess I6 in any one ofaplurality-of positions of different extents of projection of'thebristles 30b outwardly from the working "face I2 of the nozzle casing.Such mounting may be conveniently accomplished by the .assenflolage of apair of support posts 32 in opposite ends .of the recess I6 which aredisposed in generally'parallel relationship with the depth axis oftherecess I 6. Apei-tured ears 300 are then provided on each end of the*brush'frame 30a to slida'bly mount the brush on the support post 32. Aspring--34 is also mounted on each of the support posts 32 and arrangedto resiliently :urgethe brush "3'0 toward one extreme position of'projection with respect to the "working face I2. In the particularexample illustrated, the springs 34 urge the brush 30 outwardly withrespect to the working face -I 2. I

r "The actual vertical position of the brush 30 in "the recess I6 isoontrolled by a positioning member 36 which is loosely *insertable inthe transverse recess 26. The-positioning member 36 comprises ablock-like body portion 36a hav-- ing a threaded hole (not shown)'therethrough and an integral, projecting hook portion 362), the end ofwhich is disposed adjacent the central portion ofthe brush "frame-30a. Acooperating hook portion 3012 is formed on thecenter of the brush frame30a and is engaged by the hook portion "36b'of the positioning member 36to adjustably position 'the brush '30 in its recess 16in any selectedone of 'a plurality of pos'itions-of varying extents of projection withrespect to 'the work'ingface of the cleaning tool.

The depth position of the positioning member 36 in recess 26 -is' inturn determined by-a'screw 38 or similar threaded member. 'The screw 36is threadably engaged in the threaded hole of the positioning members 36and'has bearing surface end-portions'38a and 38b. The end portion 38a isreceivable in bearing relationship in a hole -22c1provided in thehorizontal arm 22a of the angle member -22. "The other bearing surfaceend portion -38b is receivable in a "hole 40a provided in the topsurface of a cover member 40 which is -'detachably secured to the"working face 12 of the nozzle casing by a plurality of screws 401).

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that "all of the-elements0f the brush-positioning mechanism are merely loosely retained withinthe nozzle casing III-until the assemblage of the cover member '40thereto. The assemblage of cover member '40 effects the positioning of"adjusting'screw 38 in-a fixed axial position within the transverserecess 26, prevents axial displacement of "the screw 38, "and yetpermits rotation of such 'screw. 'It is therefore apparent that rotation'of screw 3Bwill adjust the depth position :of the positioning member 36in the transverse recess 26 which ,in :turn effects atlin :recess A16.

A notch Illa is provided in that portion of the rear wall of nozzlecasing III which defines the rear wall of the transverse recess 26.Manual rotation of adjusting screw 38 may then be convenientlyaccomplished by the provision of a po- 'sitioning disk 42 which maybeintegrally formed with the adjusting screw 38 and has a peripheralportion thereof projecting out of nozzle casing I0 through the notchIlla. Such projecting peripheral portion of disk 42 may be readilymanipulated by the fingers of the operator to effect adjustment of theextent of projection of the brush 30 with respect to the working face ofthe cleaning tool.

The cover plate flll is a flat sheet-like member having a peripheralconfiguration conforming substantially to that of the working face I2 ofthe cleaning tool and provided with a central aperture 400 to permit thebrush bristles 30b to project therethrough and to expose the open faceof recess I4 .for unimpeded .air flow therein.

In :addition'to effecting :the operative assemblage of the positioningmechanism Ion-the.

brush 3.0, :the cover plate 4.0 is also utilized to ,effect theattachment of a resilient bumper member 44 to the periphery of thenozzle casing 10. Thenozzle casing 'I 0 is provided with aperipheralflange I'Ob 'which extends substantially around the entire periphery ofthe :nozzle casing, terminating, however, adjacent the juncture vof tnbu-lar portion I8 with the main body portion of the nozzle. At the twotermination points of flange I'Ilb notches Illc are-cut into the endface I2 of the casing to efiectivel-yextend the flange Iilb intocommunication with the brush .recess I6. In Figure 2, a portion of thecover member '40 has been broken :away to illustrate .one of the notches=I 0 c. The resilient .bumper member 44 is preformed to conform to theshape of the peripheraltflange I'Ilb and theends of such bumpermember-are provided with integral transversely offset portions "44awhich are respectively shaped to be snugly insertable in the notches.Illc. The ends 440!, of vthe resilient bumper M are thus effectivelysecured to the nozzle casing Ill-so :far as lateral displacement thereofis concerned. The detachable cover member II] has a peripheral edgeportion 40d which overlies a portion of the width'of the bumper 44 andhence exerts a clamping action on the bumper 44 against the casingflange IIlb to adequately secure the bumper to the :nozzle casing. 7

From the foregoing descriptions-it is apparent that ;a cleaning toolembodying this invention is characterized by unusual simplicity "of its,various components which permits such components to be economicallymanufactured and readily assembled. 'Such simplicity is in alargemeasure attributable to the double functional employment of the covermember 40 which concurrently :eifects -:a securing of the resilientbumper to the casing :plus the maintaining of the brushposition-adjlisting element in operative assembly.

It will, of :course, be understood that =var qus details of construction:may be varied through :a wide range without departing vfromthe-Principles of this invention andit is, therefore, mot the purpose tolimit :thepatent granted hereon etherwise than necessitated by the.scope "of the rape pended claims.

:I claim ;as my invention:

41. 1A suction cleanin {cool compris ng anemic member :having a working:face provided with a suction slot, ssaid :nozzle member also marine anelongated recess opening in said working face and a second offset recessin said nozzle member communicating therewith, an elongated brushmember, means supporting said brush member in said elongated recess formovement between positions of varying extent of projection relative tosaid working face, resilient means urging said brush toward one extremeposition with respect to said working face, a positioning member in saidsecond recess and engaging said brush to position said brush against thebias of said resilient means, threaded means in said second recess foradjusting the position of said positioning member, a cover detachablysecured to said working face and underlying said second recess, andmeans on said cover for securing said threaded means in a fixed positionin said second recess but permitting rotation thereof to adjust thedegree of projection of said brush.

2. A suction cleaning tool comprising a nozzle member having a workingface provided with a suction slot, said nozzle member also having anelongated recess opening in said working face and a second recesscommunicating therewith, an elongated brush member, means supportingsaid brush member in said elongated recess for movement betweenpositions of varying extents of projection relative to said workingface, resilient means urging said brush toward one extreme projectingposition with respect to said working face, a positioning member in saidsecond recess and engaging said brush to position the brush against thebias of said resilient means, a screw in said second recess andthreadably engaging said positioning member for adjusting the positionthereof, a cover detachably secured to said working face, means on saidcover for securing said screw in a fixed position in said second recessbut permitting rotation thereof, said casing having a slot in a walldefining said second recess, and a disk-shaped operating knob rotatablewith said screw and having a peripheral portion thereof projecting outof said nozzle member through said slot, thereby permitting manualrotation of said screw to adjust the extent of projection of said brush.

3. A suction tool comprising a body member having a Working faceprovided with a suction slot and an elongated recess adjacent thereto, apost in each end of said elongated recess, a brush member extendingacross said elongated recess and slidably supported on said posts, acoil spring on each post bottomed against said body member and biasingsaid brush member outwardly of said working face, a positioning memberengaging a medial portion of said brush member to position said brushmember inwardly of said working face against the bias of said springs, acover member underlying a portion of said elongated recess, and anadjusting screw having its opposite ends journaled in said body memberand in said cover member and being threaded through said positioningmember, said screw having a knob extending into an accessible locationoutside of said body member for manually positioning said brush memberrelative to said working face upon rotation of said knob.

GEORGE M. KELLY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,091,383 Oblosser Mar. 24, 1914 1,695,246 Gammeter Dec. 11,1928 1,772,530 Whitlock Aug. 12, 1930 2,099,172 McCabe Nov. 16, 19372,128,525 Dyer Aug. 30, 1938 2,153,457 Fechtenburg Apr. 4, 19392,421,661 Taylor June 3, 1947 2,536,443 Hammell Jan. 2, 1951

